Game apparatus



0a. 22, 1963 K. G. Ma KENZIE 3,107,919

' V GAME APPARATUS I Ffiled Oct. 24, 1960 luvewroz KENNETH G- MMKENZIE BY J H UR IYI United States Patent 3,167,919 SAME APPARATUS Kenneth G. l't-lacifensie, 422 Royal Ave, New Westminster, Eriiish Columbia, Canada Filed Oct. 24, E69, Ser. No, 64,513 7 tllaims. (ill. 273-177) This invention relates to gameapparatus to be used with a ball, usually a small ball to be propelled along a surface on which the apparatus is mounted.

An object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for a game that may be played to simulate a golf game.

Another object is the provision of apparatus for 'a game which may be played indoors or outside, and which may be played with a golf ball and a putter, thereby constituting a form of practice for the game of golf.

Another object is the provision of game apparatus which may be easily set up in limited or unlimited areas to simulate a golf course with natural or artificial obstacles and hazards.

A further object is the provision of a golf simulating game which is constantly changing for the players during play on a given layout.

While this apparatus is primarily designed to use in a simulated nine or eighteen hole golf game, the basic unit for each hole comprises a pin with supporting means at the lower end thereof for retaining the pin in a vertical position projecting upwardly from a playing surface. This supporting means may be an extension of the pin formed into a point to be driven or pressed into a playing surface such as a lawn, or a weighted base to be placed on a suitable flat surface or floor. This unit includes a stiff flag swingably mounted on the pin and projecting laterally therefrom to be hit by a ball propelled along the playing surface in the direction of said flag. At least a portion of a flag is within a distance equal to the diameter of a ball used in the game of the lower end of the pin and consequently said playing surface. With this arrangement, the flag may be hit and swung around the pin by a ball rolled over the surface on which the appar-atus is mounted.

A plurality of these units may be laid out to simulate a golf course, for example, on the grounds around a home. Garden beds, patios, foot paths, flag stones and the like provide natural obstacles or hazards, but artificial hazards may also be created without changing the original layout of the garden or property. The flag of each unit may have a number on it to represent the number of a hole. An eighteen-hole course may be provided by using nine units, each with two numbers, one number being between :one to nine and the other from ten. to eighteen. A person in order to make a hole has to propel the ball so that it strikes the -fiag, and the length of the flag is preferably equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole. Variety and interest in the game are created by the fact that when one player rikes the flag with his ball, the flag swings around the pin so that it may assume a different angle relative to the ball of the next player than it originally had.

Examples of this invention are illustrated the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a preferred form or" the game apparatus,

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of this apparatus,

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of alternative form of the apparatus,

FIGURE 5 is an elevation of another alternative form of the apparatus,

3*,lifild Fatente Get, 22, 1%63 FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of still another embodiment of the invention, and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the apparatus of PEG- URE 6.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawings, 10 is a "game apparatus unit which includes a pin 11 having a lower end 12. Supporting means is provided at the lower end of this pin, and in this example, the supporting means consists 'of an extension 15 of the pin which tapers down to a point 16. pressed into a playing surface, such as the ground or a lawn. A relatively large head 18 is provided on the upper end of pin 11 in order that the pointed extension of the pin may be pressed into the playing surface without muci difiiculty.

A relatively stiff flag 22 is swingably mounted on pin 1-1 beneath head 18. This flag may be formed of any desired material, such as metal, wood or plastic. This fiag has ends 24- and 25 which, if the game is to simulate a golf game, are spaced apart a distance equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole, which is about 4 inches. The actual mounting of the flag on the pin may he accomplished in any desired manner. In this example, spaced, parallel slits 2'7 and 28 are cut in the flag, and the material between these slits is pressed out to form a sleeve 29. Pin 11 extends through this sleeve so that the flag is free to rotate around the pin.

Flag 22 is retained in its proper position on pin 11 in any convenient manner. In this example, a pair of washers 32 and 33 are mounted on the pin and prevented from moving downwardly th'ereon by projections 34 on the pin. Flag 22 actually rests on upper washer 32.

The flag may be any desired color, and it may have different colors on its opposite faces so that one color indicates that the unit forms part of the first nine holes of the game, and the other color that it forms part of the last nine holes. Suitable numbers may appear on the flag.

The game unit it? may very easily be set up for use. A person can press the sharpened extension 15 of pin 11 into the ground merely by pressing on the large head 18 which provides a large bearing surface for this purpose. The head also provides a good grip by means of which the unit may he drawn out of the ground or lawn. In this way, the unit may be placed in dilferen-t places, and it can be removed for lawn cutting and the like.

The line 35 in FIGURE 1 indicates the level of a playing surface on which unit 10 is mounted. The lower end 12 of pin 11 is just at this surface. The distance between surface 35 or the lower end 12 of the pin and the lower edge of flag 2 2, reprmented by arrow 36, is within a distance equal to the diameter of a ball to be used with the game apparatus, such as a golf ball. With this arrangement, a ball rolling on surface 35 near the pin can strike flag 22 to cause it to rotate around said pin.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a game unit 38 with a flag 40 slightly modified from that of FIGURE 1. Flag 40 is swingably mounted on pin 11 beneath head 18 and above the pointed extension 15. Flag 40 is formed with a sleeve 42 at one end thereof through which pin 11 extends, said sleeve resting on upper washer 32. The flag may have any desired length, but it preferably is equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole. This flag may be colored and/ or numbered in the same manner as flag 22.

The distance between the lower edge 44 of flag 4d and the lower end of pin 12, represented by arrow 45, is less than the diameter of the ball to be used with the game.

FIGURE 5 shows a game unit 50 which is the same as unit it excepting that it has different supporting means. The lower end 12 of pin 11 is connected to and projects upwardly from a weighted base 53. This base preferably tapers downwardly from the pin to its edge 54, and said This extension is intended to be driven or 3 base is preferably narrower than the length of flag 22. In other words, the ends 24 and 25 of the flag project outwardly beyond the edge of base 53. The distance 56 between the lower edge of flag 22 and the playing surface 57 upon which base 53 rests is less than the diameter of aball to be used with the unit.

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate still. another embodiment of the invention. This game unit 6% includes a vertical pin 61 having a box-like flag 62 swingably or rotatably mounted thereon in any desired manner. The flag in this examplc has four vertical faces 64, 65, '66 and 67 which may be colored and/ or numbered. The box may be formed of any desired material, such as a light plastic, and it is rotatably connected to pin 61 in any convenient manner. in this example, the flag is formed with a socket 7 0 extending inwardly from its lower surface 71 centrally thereof into which pin 61 fits. The lower end 61 of the pin is connected to and extends upwardly from a weighted base '73 which preferably slopes downwardly from the pin at 74 to an edge 75. This base is narrower than fiag 62.. The distance 7 8 from the surface on which unit 64) rests and the lower edge 71 of the flag is less than the diameter of the ball to be used with this game.

It will be obvious that each of the illustrated embodimerits of the invention may have supporting means in the form of a pointed extension of the vertical pin, or a weighted base which preferably does not extend laterally all the way to the ends or edges of the flag. In each case, the lower edge of the flag is within a distance of the playing surface upon which the unit is mounted equal to the diameter of a ball to be used with the apparatus.

'One or a plurality of the game units may be set up for amusement or practice. As previously stated, this game apparatus is primarily designed to simulate a golf game so that a golf ball and a putter are usually used to play the game. A person may set up a game unit for practice purposes, although greater enjoyment is attained by setting up nine or eighteen units in a suitable area to simulate a golf course. This may be easily done in a garden for example. The game may be varied by changing the positions of the units or by altering obstacles and ham ards. For examp'ie, lawn furniture may be moved into different positions to form obstacles. One of the advantages of this apparatus is the fact that no permanent change has to be made in the area in which the game is to be played. Most suitable areas include natural obstacles and hazards, such as flower beds, foot paths, patios, flag stones, trees and the like.

When a person is attempting to make a hole, he shoots or propels the ball along the playing surface'towards the flag of the game unit constituting the hole he is trying to make. He makes the hole when his ball strikes the flag. Putters are usually used, but chipping iron clubs may be used to get over obstacles. Not only is there amusement in playing this game, but players usually improve their golf games. When a person is playing another person, the balls of the two players may be lying within shooting distance of a given game unit. The first person to shoot at and strike the flag causes the latter to rotate around the pin. This may result in his opponent having a better or worse shot at the flag than said opponent would have had if he had been able to shoot first. If the length of each flag (represented by the sides 64, 65, as and 67 of unit 60) is kept to the approximate diameter of a regulation golf hole, a person playing the game is constantly aiming his ball at a target which is the same length as a golf hole diameter.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Game apparatus including a plurality of units to be placed in different positions on a playing surface and successively shot at by a standard golf ball propelled by a player, each unit comprising a pin, supporting means at a lower end of the pin for retaining said pin in a vertical position projecting upwardly from a playing surface, and a stilf flag mounted for rotation on the pin and projecting laterally therefrom to be shot at and hit by a golf ball propelled along the playing surface in the direction of said flag, the position of the lower edge of the flag relative to the pin and the supporting means being such that when said supporting means is retaining the pin in said vertical position projecting upwardly from the playing surface, the distance from the lower edge of the flag to the playing surface is less than the diameter of a golf 7 ball, the length of the flag outwardly from the pin being substantially equal to the radius of a standard golf hole, whereby the flag may be hit and spun around the pin by a golf ball rolled over a playing surface on which the apparatus is mounted, said flag being so rotatably mounted and of such size that it can spin around the pin when struck by the ball.

2. Game apparatus including a plurality of units to be placed in diiferent positions on a playing surface and successively shot at by a standard golf ball propelled by a player, each unit comprising a pin, supporting means at a lower end of the pin for retaining said pin in a vertical position projecting upwardly from a playing surface, and a stiff flag having a length substantially equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole and mounted for rotation on the pin and projecting laterally in two directions therefrom to be shot at and hit by a golf ball propelled along the playing surface in the direction of said flag, said flag having striking faces on both sides of the pin, the position of the lower edge of the flag relative to the pin and the supporting means being such that when said supporting means is retaining the pin in said vertical position projecting up- Wardly from the playing surface, the distance from the lower edge of the fiag to the playing surface is less than the diameter of a golf ball, whereby the flag may be hit on either side of the pin and spun around the latter by a ball rolled over a playing surface on which the apparatus is mounted. a

3. Game apparatus including a plurality of units to be placed in different positions on a playing surface and successively shot at by a standard golf ball propelled by a player, each unit comprising a pin, a shoulder on the pin adjacent a lower end thereof, a head on an upper end of the pin, supporting means at the lower end of the pin for retaining said pin in a vertical position projecting upwardly from a playing surface, and a stiff flag having a length substantially equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole and mounted for rotation on the pin between the shoulder and the head and projecting laterally therefrom to be shot at and hit by a golf ball propelled along the playing surface in the direction of said flag, the position of the lower edge of the flag relative to the pin and the supporting means being such that when said supporting means is retaining the pin in said vertical position projecting upwardly from the playing surface, the distance from the lower edge of the flag to the playing surface is less than the diameter of a golf ball, whereby the flag may be hit and spun around the pin by a ball rolled over a playing surface on which the apparatus is mounted, said flag being so rotatably mounted and of such size that it can spin around the pin when struck by the ball.

4. Game apparatus including a plurality of units to be placed in different positions on a playing surface and successively shot at by a standard golf ball propelled by a player, each unit comprising a pin, a shoulder on the pin adjacent a lower end thereof, a head on an upper endv of the pin, an extension on the lower end of the pin and formed with a point to be driven into a playing surface, a stiff flag having a length substantially equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole and mounted for rotation on the pin between the shoulder and the head and projecting laterally therefrom to be shot at and hit by a golf ball propelled along the playing surface in the direction of said flag, the position of the lower edge of the flag relative to the pin and the supporting means being such that when said supporting means is retaining the pin in said vertical position projecting upwardly from the playing surface, the distance from the lower edge of the flag to the playing surface is less than the diameter of a golf ball, whereby the flag may be hit and spun around the pin by a ball rolled over a playing surface on which the apparatus is mounted.

5. Game apparatus including a plurality of units to be placed in different positions on a playing surface and successively shot at by a standard golf ball propelled by a player, each unit comprising a pin, a shoulder on the pin adjacent a lower end thereof, a head on an upper end of the pin, a weighted base from which the pin projects, said base being adapted to be placed on a playing surface, a stiff flag having a length substantially equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole and mounted for rotation on the pin between the shoulder and the head and projecting laterally therefrom to be shot at and hit by a golf ball propelled along the playing surface in the direction of said flag, the position of the lower edge of the flag relative to the pin and the supporting means being such that when said supporting means is retaining the pin in said vertical position projecting upwardly from the playing surface, the distance from the lower edge of the flag to the playing surface is less than the diameter of a golf ball, whereby the flag may be hit and spun around the pin by a ball rolled over a playing surface on which the apparatus is mounted, said flag being so rotatably mounted and of such size that it can spin around the pin when struck by the ball.

6. Game apparatus including a plurality of units to be placed in different positions on a playing surface and successively shot at by a standard golf ball propelled by a player, each unit comprising a pin, supporting means at a lower end of the pin for retaining said pin in a vertical position projecting upwardly from a playing surface, and a box-like flag swingably mounted centrally thereof on the pin and projecting laterally therefrom to be shot at and hit by a golf ball propelled along the playing surface in the direction of said flag, said flag having a plurality of substantially vertical faces thereon facing away from the pin, each face having a length substantially equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole, the position of the lower edge of the flag relative to the pin and thesupporting means being such that when said supporting means is retaining the pin in said vertical position projecting upwardly from the playing surface, the distance from the lower edge of the flag to the playing surface is less than the diameter of a golf ball, whereby any face of the flag may be hit and the flag swung around the pin by a ball rolled over a playing surface on which the apparatus is mounted.

7. Game apparatus including a plurality of units to be placed in different positions on a playing surface and surfcessively shot at by a standard golf ball propelled by a player, each unit comprising a pin, supporting means at a lower end of the pin for retaining said pin in a vertical position projecting upwardly from a playing surface, a stiff flag in a substantially vertical plane and having spaced horizontal slits therein with the material therebetween pressed out to form a vertical sleeve centrally of the flag, said flag being mounted on the pin with the latter extending through said sleeve, said flag having a length substantially equal to the diameter of a regulation golf hole, the position of the lower edge of the flag relative to the pin and the supporting means being such that when said supporting means is retaining the pin in said vertical position projecting upwardly from the playing surface, the distance from the lower edge of the flag to the playing surface is less than the diameter of a golf ball, whereby the flag may be hit on either side of the pin and spun around the latter by a ball rolled over a playing surface on which the apparatus is mounted.

References (fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 16, 1931 

1. GAME APPARATUS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF UNITS TO BE PLACED IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON A PLAYING SURFACE AND SUCCESSIVELY SHOT AT BY A STANDARD GOLF BALL PROPELLED BY A PLAYER, EACH UNIT COMPRISING A PIN, SUPPORTING MEANS AT A LOWER END OF THE PIN FOR RETAINING SAID PIN IN A VERTICAL POSITION PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM A PLAYING SURFACE, AND A STIFF FLAG MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON THE PIN AND PROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM TO BE SHOT AT AND HIT BY A GOLF BALL PROPELLED ALONG THE PLAYING SURFACE IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID FLAG, THE POSITION OF THE LOWER EDGE OF THE FLAG RELATIVE TO THE PIN AND THE SUPPORTING MEANS BEING SUCH THAT WHEN SAID SUPPORTING MEANS IS RETAINING THE PIN IN SAID VERTICAL POSITION PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE PLAYING SURFACE, THE DISTANCE FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF THE FLAG TO THE PLAYING SURFACE IS LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF A GOLF BALL, THE LENGTH OF THE FLAG OUTWARDLY FROM THE PIN BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE RADIUS OF A STANDARD GOLF HOLE, WHEREBY THE FLAG MAY BE HIT AND SPUN AROUND THE PIN BY A GOLF BALL ROLLED OVER A PLAYING SURFACE ON WHICH THE APPARATUS IS MOUNTED, SAID FLAG BEING SO ROTATABLY MOUNTED AND OF SUCH SIZE THAT IT CAN SPIN AROUND THE PIN WHEN STRUCK BY THE BALL. 